Social Role of Women in Society

Introduction The social role which I feel that I occupy and that I am going to focus on in this essay is the one of a women in this society. I believe I have been socialized into this role for numerous reasons. Throughout this paper I will explain how I think I have been socialized into this role. Social Roles; There are a variety of social roles in our society. They have been established since the early years. It is the people within our society that establish and portray these roles in their everyday life. â€Å"Social roles are the part people play as members of a social group.With each social role you adopt, your behaviour changes to fit the expectations both you and others have of that role. † (McLeod, S. A. (2008). Social Roles. Retrieved from: [Accessed 21/10/2012] http://www. simplypsychology. org/social-roles. html I believe social roles are in place so that we as people know our place in society and with our roles in society come many opportunities but also many rule s and regulations. Whereas, other species on our land seem to be set in their ways and abide by them no matter what. If they dot the consequences are usually very extreme.As a woman I feel like I have been socialised into this tradition role for numerous reasons. To be honest I think my family and where I am from has had a major impact on how I have been drawn to this role. I am from a tradition country Irish family. There is my brother and I in my family. It really frustrates me in my life as there seems to be a different set of rules and obligations for my brother over me. Their seems to be so many societal expectations for women. As I have grown older things have become much clearer to me as why I have always been treated differently to my other sibling.When I was younger I thought maybe it was because of the four year age gap, but now I realise it is merely because I am a female and that is why some obligations are always ordered for me to do and not for my older sibling who is a male. â€Å"When we occupy a certain status in society, we have functions to serve† (Donohoe and Gaynor 1999) Social Roles as Constructed Not Natural I believe that my social role as a woman is socially created as it has been in place for many generations. Women since the early years have always been seen in a traditional way as been the house-wife and mother in the home.Even though I have just entered into my adult years I already feel the pressures of the role which is socially constructed for me. I am worried for myself that I will be discriminated in the workforce just because of my gender and also the fact that I am a young woman with the potential to have kids. â€Å"Even with the fact that women are now able to participate more in the public world and get paid employment, they still face inequality in the work place† (Gender Roles of the 21st Century. † 123HelpMe. com. 3 Oct 2012) This is a major concern of mine and it is not through my own fault that th ese restrictions may affect me; it is simply due to our society. I also think my role as a woman has been socially constructed as society wants us all to be in a set manner for order in our world and so a conflict does not occur. Socialization â€Å"Socialization refers to the way in which we absorb the rules of behaviour which are common in our society† (Abbott 1998:10) Socialization sets out how we should live in accord to our society and its expectations. (McDonald, Bernadette 2006) It is also the process of development of the human being in a social context.Human behaviour is learned primarily through the process of socialization which involves the transmission of culture by language and gesture and at the same time through the same interaction with others we learn about our ‘self’ and develop a sense of who we are and how to behave. Primary socialization; this happens in your childhood and is the ‘most intense period of cultural learning’ (Giddi ns 2001:26) this is the stage in our lives we begin to learn the basics such as acceptable behaviour and things like our native language. My primary agents of socialization were my parents and grandparents.Secondary socialization, this is the stage of socialization that occurs in the later stage of our lives when we are maturing in our lives. â€Å"At this stage children adapt to the wider world and learn to relate to a variety of people in a variety of different ways† (Bernadette McDonald, 2006. An Introduction to Sociology in Ireland, Dublin, Type IT) If we are part of a group we are influenced greatly by them such as; our family, peer group and the media. ‘Social interactions in these contexts help people learn the values, norms and beliefs which make up the patterns of their culture’ (Giddens 2001:28).I strongly think that I learned my social role as a woman in the secondary stage of socialisation. When I was playing hurling with the boys I was noticing that they treated me different just because I was a women, they would be afraid to tackle me even though I was just as tough as them. This was the first stage in my life where it really hit me that as I woman I was going to be treated much different in my society in comparison to my male counterparts. I have lived with my parents all of my life and they are very set in their ways. This has clearly impacted on me in my life also.It has made me see myself as different so other people, like I have a set of obligations as a women and if I do not perform them I seem to fail in my role as a women. According to Macionis and Plummer (2002) â€Å" The family also confers on children on a social position, that is, parents not only bring children into the physical world, they also pace them in society in terms of race, ethnicity, religion and class† From this I think what they are trying to say is that as your parents are responsible for giving you life you must abide by the values that they entrust onto you.Also another main element that I think was an agent to my socialization of a woman was my peer group and school. I went to an all girl’s school and we had a set way of doing stuff in school and also the fact my whole peer group was girls it took me awhile to get used to been able to deal with having men within my peer group. I believe people in mixed schools have a much better chance in life as they are more aware of how to deal with the mixture of genders. I believe that society is so strong that my role as a woman will never be abolished and we will always have set obligations in our life compared to our male counterparts.Constraining or Creative? There are many viewpoints in sociology in how we interpret social roles. Some people interpret roles and are very dominant in enforcing them and on the other hand others are more relaxed about enforcing society’s roles. On some occasions I challenge the social role I obtain, I try to change the way people view me through the actions I carry out. I sometimes try to be tough to others to show that I am not the typical women and that I go by my own rules. But then sometimes I end up giving up as after all usually if anyone tries to challenge society they usually fail and as a person I am not too fond of failing.I thought I could exercise the agency in my social role but it is not as easy I thought. Society is very tough but I hope through the power of knowledge as I grow older and further my studies I will be more confident to challenge society’s values and the agencies theories that are upheld. Conclusion On a whole there are so many reasons why I think I was socialized into my role as a woman in the society. My family and peer group had a great effect on me in my life values and the set of obligation that apply to me just as I am a woman.In the primary stage of my life I was brought into a traditional family which enforced the strong old values of how women were to work in the house. Then as I matured and grew older in my secondary stage of developed I began to be unhappy with my role as I seen how different my brother was treated. I started to challenge my role a lot but got greatly dishearted as the values and set forces in societies are almost irreversible and also when you go against the values of society you usually as the old proverb goes you get burned badly.Through the study of sociology it is making me believe in myself so much more and as I deepen my studies in it I feel it is giving me more self belief and confidence to stand up and argue against the role I was socialized into as a woman. Bibliography and Referencing Page McLeod, S. A. (2008). Social Roles. Retrieved from: [Accessed 21/10/2012] http://www. simplypsychology. org/social-roles. html Donohoe and Gaynor 1999 Gender Roles of the 21st Century. † 123HelpMe. com. 23 Oct 2012 Abbott 1998:10 Bernadette McDonald, 2006. An Introduction to Sociology in Ireland, Dublin, Type IT Macionis and Plummer 2002

Appalachian Culture and Health Awareness Essay

According to Kruger et al. (2012), the Appalachian region, consisting of 13 states along the east coast border, is a high risk area for cardiac, pulmonary, and cancer conditions related to smoking and coal mining. This rural population has ultimately higher rates of heart disease, stroke, COPD, asthma, lung cancer, and diabetes. Substantially higher rates of smoking, as well as the relevance of coal mining, are two major contributors to the increased risk of morbidity and mortality amongst this large population (Kruger et al., 2012). Insufficient education, poor behavior choices, and lack of adequate health care are major contributors to the overall unhealthy lifestyles of these individuals. Unfortunately, this begins at a young age. According to Short, Oza-Frank, and Conrey (2012), there are major differences regarding preconception health awareness amongst Appalachian women as compared to non-Appalachian women. Appalachian women have higher rates of smoking, diabetes, and obesity than do non-Appalachian women. These women have poorer rates of prenatal care and higher rates of birthing and congenital complications, such as pulmonary hypertension, insufficient lung development, and cardiac abnormalities. Often due to lack of insurance, these mothers often lack appropriate health care and health awareness, thus increasing their child’s risk of further cardiac and pulmonary conditions down the road. Unfortunately, these babies grow up in an environment that, as a population, has inadequate health care, low income, and poor health. This detrimental sequence of events is what has maintained the subpar health status of the Appalachian population (Short et al., 2012). As these children grow into their teens, poor behavioral choices further substantiate detrimental risk factors. A study by Pettigrew, Miller-Day, Krieger, and Hecht (2012), conducted research study of primary and secondary health prevention in Appalachian adolescents. According to this study, this population has higher rates of smoking, drinking, and drug use as compared to non-Appalachian adolescents. These risky behaviors are so prevalent because of lifestyles these children have grown to know; these behaviors are considered normal in many homes. As do their parents, many of these children lack insurance and health care (Pettigrew et al., 2012). Obesity and diabetes is also substantially high in the Appalachian population as compared to the rest of the nation as shown in a study by Wenrich, Brown, Wilson, and Lengerich (2012). The authors pinpoint Appalachia as a low-income group of individuals who receive poor nutrition, thus further contributing to the preexisting risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Poor health, along with behavioral risk factors, have ultimately led to detrimental health status. Yes, we love the STEELers, but steel mills and coal mining has only contributed to these health risks. The Appalachian culture is at risk for obvious reasons. Unfortunately, these risk factors will not decline quickly. Primary prevention and health awareness programs would make a huge impact on this population. Low income is a struggle that will not be overcome easily. However, primary prevention and health awareness are often available at low cost and are highly efficient measures of decreasing risk factors by focusing on healthy lifestyles. Smoking cessation would obviously be of major importance, but compliance would be of great struggle (Kruger et al., 2012). References Kruger, T., Howell, B., Haney, A., Davis, R., Fields, N., & Schoenberg, N. (2012). Perceptions of smoking cessation programs in rural Appalachia. American Journal of Health Behavior, 36(3), 373-84. Pettigrew, J., Miller-Day, M., Krieger, J., & Hecht, M. (2012). The rural content of illicit substance offers: a study of Appalachian rural adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Research, 27(4), 523-50. Short, V., Oza-Frank, R., & Conrey, E. (2012). Preconception Health Indicators: A comparison between non-Appalachian and Appalachian women. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 16(1), 238-49. Wenrich, T., Brown, J., Wilson, R., & Lengerich, E. (2012). Impact of a community-based intervention on serving and intake of vegetables among low-income, rural Appalachian families. Journal of Nutrition Education & Behavior, 44(1), 36-45.

Face Recognition Technology To Augment Security Measures At The Sporting Event Essay

Facial recognition technology refers to a computer driven application that automatically identifies an individual from his or her digital image by a comparison of particular facial features in a facial database and in the live image (â€Å"Face Recognition,† 2007). The technology creates a template of people’s facial configurations, such as the lengths of their noses and the angles of their jaws. It thereby functions like the other biometric technologies (e. g. iris scanning) that use biological features for the purposes of recognition. According to Visionics, a manufacturer of face recognition technology, this technology is capable of finding human faces â€Å"anywhere in the field of view and at any distance, and it can continuously track them and crop them out of the scene, matching the face against a watch list† (Kautzer). While iris scanning and other kinds of biometric technologies are known to be far more accurate than the face recognition technology, it is believed that the latter would be more widely accepted because it is least intrusive. The technology also does not require users to push, click, or insert anything into the system. Moreover, companies using the face recognition technology do not require the installation of anything except the new software application. The cameras in place as well as the pictures of their employees on file are enough for companies that use the technology. Hence, face recognition technology is cheaper for organizations than the iris scanning, for instance, which requires reading setups. According to Frances Zelazney of Visionics, yet another advantage of facial recognition technology as compared to the other biometric technologies is that â€Å"[unlike] other biometrics, facial recognition provides for inherent human backup because we naturally recognize one another†¦ If the system goes down, someone can pull out an ID with a picture as backup, something you can’t do with fingerprint devices (Rutherford, 2001). † Unsurprisingly, facial recognition technology is known as the fastest growing biometric technology in our day. Law enforcement agencies and the military have been using the technology successfully for many years without the public being aware of it. In the year 1988, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (Lakewood Division) began using composite sketches of suspects, as well as video images, in order to conduct searches on a database of digital facial shots. The department also has a photo database of sex offenders, and plans to find suspects on this database. Then there is the Gang Reporting Evaluation Tracking system that can be searched with the use of photos of suspects in order for law enforcement to circumvent false identification cards as well as information that has been presented by gang members (Jarvis). There are numerous United States embassies around the world that are already using the face recognition technology to keep criminals from entering the country. The Israel-Palestine border control is similarly equipped with the technology to reduce crime across the border (Jarvis). IQ Biometrix, established in 2001, is a company providing help to thousands of law enforcement agencies around the world with the FACESTM, which is a groundbreaking software tool allowing for the â€Å"creation and recreation of billions of facial images, as well as their encoding, cataloging and transmitting. † The technology incorporates a facial composite tool that the FBI and the CIA also use. The United States Department of Defense, the U. S. Navy, and various local as well as state police agencies have similarly opted for this groundbreaking system of facial recognition (IQ Biometrix, 2004). Given the importance of putting a name to a face, whether it is to solve crimes, protect the public, or to ensure security in jails, face recognition technology is proving itself to be of tremendous value. Sheriff Everett Rice along with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Florida employs the Viisage face recognition technology to â€Å"positively identify and verify individuals. † Some of these individuals have just been recently arrested, while others are about to released. The face recognition technology is also of use with people that visit the courthouse. So far, the application of the technology has been successful, and users of the technology believe that it would have a greater impact on crime control in the years to come (â€Å"Facial Recognition,† 2007). The United States Department of Defense, with its focus on perfecting the face recognition technology to spot criminals at the borders of the nation, had been funding scientists’ research on the technology for more than decade. Private companies were similarly convinced that the face recognition technology could help dramatically in combating crime within the borders of the United States. Because of their belief, the marketing of the technology became widespread during the mid-1990s (Rutherford). Then came 9/11 – the day that changed the security concerns of the entire world in the matter of only a few hours. There was increased interest in face recognition technology following the terrorist attacks on the American soil. Although the Americans had viewed the face recognition technology with skepticism before the attacks, they became confident that widespread use of the new technology in security as well as public safety would help protect them from similar attacks in future. Indeed, the face recognition technology could play an important role in the prevention of tragedies. All the same, law enforcement agencies have discovered that in the areas covered by the new technology, no terrorist has ever been identified. What is more, despite the redoubling of efforts to create dependable face recognition systems after 9/11, the technology suffers from problems. The facial recognition technology faces a difficulty, for example, in the recognition of the effects of aging. Digitally compared photos of individuals that had been taken eighteen months apart produced untrue rejections by the software application at least forty three percent of the time. Furthermore, it has been found that the technology is more successful when used by casinos to identify cheaters; in welfare offices; and by driver’s license bureaus, given the uniformity of lighting and the use of the same cameras in these places (Jarvis; O’Harrow, 2001). Seeing that the face recognition technology is not fool proof, albeit useful – and security experts have confirmed this – it is best to use it at the sporting event only to augment security measures. The new technology can help security personnel at the sporting event to spot terrorists, for instance. However, face recognition technology should not be considered a replacement for traditional security measures by any means. What is more, this technology is easy to use, and security personnel would not have a difficult time installing and working through the system. Hence, the use of face recognition technology at the sporting event is definitely recommended as a boost to the traditional security measures. References Face Recognition System. (2007). Wikipedia. Retrieved 25 August 2007, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Facial_recognition_system. Facial Recognition in Action. (2007). Penton Media. Retrieved 25 August 2007, from http://govtsecurity. com/current/. Jarvis, A. Are Privacy Rights of Citizens Being Eroded Wholesale? Forensic Evidence. Retrieved 25 August 2007, from http://forensic-evidence. com/site/ID/facialrecog. html. Kautzer, C. Face Recognition Technology. ZMAG. Retrieved 25 August 2007, from http://www. zmag. org/ZMag/articles/march02kautzer. htm. O’Harrow, R. (2001, August 1). Matching Faces With Mug Shots. Washington Post, p. A01. Rutherford, Emelie. (2001, July 17). Facial Recognition Tech Has People Pegged. CNN. Retrieved 25 August 2007, from http://www. cnn. com/2001/TECH/ptech/07/17/face. time. idg.

Reaction Paper on Hidden Heads of Household

Alma Guardado Professor Turkon October 11, 2018 Reaction Paper on Hidden Heads of Household 1.Within Brazil, poor children are found in situations that they can't escape due to extreme poverty and globalization and even culture. Children are sometimes considered head of households, due to their parent's inability to contribute sufficient income, hence, they would be forced to assist. Like for instance, when a mother cannot work due to pregnancy or staying home to take care of the infants, children would be likely to work to replace their mother, â€Å"I realized that it was the littlest one who was getting the most money. So, I let them go alone, until today.† (Kenny, 1997, p.97) Due, to the low amount of employment available, families must move around frequently to available jobs, which most likely led them to overcrowded, violent favela nearby. Culture and politicians contribute into the factor that poor children within these situations, since children have the mindset that they are unskilled and must work in dirty conditions and politics would lie that they would help on â€Å"gas, light and water bills. However, they do not. They just wanted a vote. Children are forced upon their situation based on their family situation and poverty. 2.In Brazil, globalization and economy are global influences that foster child labor. Child labor was influence due to the increase of wealth, since it brought upon an increase of poverty and inequality. A global shift in production resulted into the growth of favelas, where more children were born into. In those horrible conditions they were forced to find a job at a young age to receive for in their plates every night. Also, due to the â€Å"increase of capital investment in factories† in Brazil â€Å"where the labor is cheap, labor laws are not enforced† brought upon more increase of children working there. Also, factory owners preferred children since they can pay them fewer wages. The increase of economy brought upon the desire of more workers to be able produce more goods. 3.As the author emphasizes how she will give details, and the problematic study will result into good results, I honest expected more. I felt it could be consider an exploitation method, but not a study that led to good result. Yes, it did help numerous programs to be formed, yet exploitation does the same. It did not impact the whole situation in a large extent, it pushed positively, but it did not force individuals to stop and wonder what they could do to change the problem. It does a good job, emphasizing the suffering young children are faced and provokes us readers to feel sympathy and heartache knowing what is happening to them. However, does not give valid results, since the programs are not enforced they are created, yet not pushed forward into action. The author herself can use the situation for her benefit for her research. There was no real solution for her study. 4.Global tourism is one of the issues that affect the lives of many children negatively and positively based on the description given in the book. Some children will arrive at 8 am at the tourist location, to beg for tourist for money, however, sometimes they frequently were only offered food, but the kids wanted money due to the easier way to split money among each other and be able to buy what they want with it and hang on to some. Another, positive aspect of tourism was that they brought employment to male children like guides, vendors and based on the satisfaction they might be able to gain extra money or food additionally from their fee for tours. But, for girls sometimes global tourism would be a negative aspect for them, since most of the time they could not have the same jobs as boys due to their physical appearance, hence, they would work in the sex industry. Sexual relationship with foreigners was in the hopes for young women, since it was a strategy for them to deal with poverty, and a desire for travel and material goods. Girls with low-esteem preferred foreigners to Brazilian men, since they thought they treated them better and believed in the hopes of opportunities would come around. In their perspective they believed they were happy since even if they lacked the formal education and financial safety net, they provided money to their family and felt some statues with their peers. The tourist industry brought exploitation of the poor children, however, at the same time brought hopes. 5.The author refers to â€Å"agent† they mean a representative of the whole community or household on their behalf. Specifically, the â€Å"agents† the author refers to is the children, since they are truly the spokesperson telling their own reality of the harsh situations they are facing. In fact, the children should be agents in crafting policies that affect their situation, since it directly affects them. They are the ones who are facing poverty, low wages and harsh conditions and sometimes even the responsibility to have to put money on the table for their family. A fourteen-year-old child should not have the responsibility to work and not be able to receive an education, so why shouldn't they be able to craft the policies that are affecting their own lives. It's not the politicians nor the high-income class or even the adults who are being directly affect, it's the children. They are the ones who are working and facing conditions that most individuals do not face at their age and no one really knows what goes on in their lives, since yes we can research about it, but it does not mean we face it every day like they do, so they should be ones who craft the certain policies rather than those viewing them â€Å"as sweet little victims.† 6. Globalization isn't a tool to eliminate child labor in Brazil or elsewhere. It may be able to increase the employment and even the earnings to poor households in developing countries. But, the more desire for export products led to an increase of demand for labor, however, not towards adults. Within factories, they would prefer children since they could pay them less for their labor. Also, their shortness was desirable, since â€Å"they could fit in small holes and under machines.† (Kenny, 1997, p.7) Adults would be unemployed, or those in Brazil will work along with their children in the mills or textile factories. Altogether, globalization brought a negative effect, since when Brazil created a minor code to restrict children into working only six hours, parents did not like the idea which didn't led to the enforcement, nor was there an elimination of child labor. Also, the global shift increased the growth of urban favelas, which led poverty becoming deeper in Brazil and those who most likely work in factories would live in poverty, due to their low income. Globalization brings a desire for interaction of economy and prosperity, with no consideration of how children are treated. There is a more focus on the products than those creating the products.Kenny, M. L. (1997). Hidden heads of households: Child labor in Northeast Brazil.

America War Efforts and Just War Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

America War Efforts and Just War Theory - Essay Example Admittedly, the 9/11 terror strikes were heinous acts that cannot be justified under humanitarian principles. Alan Dowd asserts that the 9/11 attacks were not an attack on the United States alone but on all of human civilization. The author explains in detail the meaning of civilization and cites examples from recent history when it was saved by American military intervention, the chief examples of which are the two World Wars waged in the last century. Continuing in this vein, Down equates the threat posed by networks such as Al Qaeda to that of totalitarian rulers of the past, including Hitler and Stalin. He tries to draw an analogy between the ongoing military engagements of the United States to its major confrontations against Nazism and Stalinism. Dowd ends the article on a hopeful note, that America and its coalition partners will prevail in the War on Terror, just as they had done on crucial junctures of recent history. It is important to note that Alan Dowd does not make a serious effort to justify the War on Terror with the conditions laid down by the Just War theory. The author had not undertaken this task probably because he had a weak case to argue. The invasion and occupation of Iraq is a breach of several of the Just War conditions, the most blatant of which is the numerous civilian fatalities that the war has caused. The article written by Charles Kegley Jr and Gregory Raymond takes a critical look at the doctrine of Pre-emptive war, which was the cornerstone of the eight-year term of George W. Bush. The authors explain the weak premises upon which this doctrine is based and how it fails the standards set by the Just War theory.

The Novikov Telegram, September 27, 1946 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Novikov Telegram, September 27, 1946 - Essay Example The evidence he uses to justify this perspective stems from the â€Å"the real meaning† of the claims of the American leadership of the right to lead the world. These words have been followed up by the enlisting of the army, the air force, the navy, industry, and science in America to serve this long-term goal of the American foreign policy. In addition Novikov cites the existence of â€Å"broad plans† for the expansion leading to world domination, and the use of diplomacy in implementing these plans by the setting up a system of air and naval bases that are far beyond the boundaries of the United States of America. Further evidence cited by Novikov to justify the long-term goal of world domination in American foreign policy through the arms race and the development of â€Å"newer types of weapons†. The newer types of weapons that Novikov refers to are the atomic bombs possessed by the United States of America, which at that time was not possessed by any other co untry. Novikov goes on further to say that the United States of America was moving towards ending the allied occupation of Germany so that by establishing democracy in Germany, it could be used to in the service of the plans of the United States of America for world domination. (1). To Novikov the American strategy in its timing of entry into Second World War was planned on assisting it aims to dominate the world. During the Second World War the main theatres of war were in Europe and Asia. As far as possible the United States of America would not enter the Second World war and if pushed to it would delay its entry in such a manner that with minimal effort it could decide the course of the war, as the main combatants by then would weak and weary of the war. This strategy had to twin benefits on one hand the leading nations of the world involved in the battles of the second world war would be weakened while the fresh American forces would retain their strength and this would allow them to

AT&T Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

AT&T - Essay Example The core assumption behind this movement of net income is the increasing expected costs and expenses of the company of the forth-coming periods. A little variation is the assets of the company is forecasted and the levels of assets are not expected to increase or decrease significantly. The company plans to reduce the levels of its equity in the future periods with minor deductions. AT&T tries to improve the paid dividends by increasing the value slightly every year, these movements show that the organization is planning and persuading an organic growth for the future periods. The cash flow generation is likely to drop down every year due to increased expected expenses. Due to increased expenses, the profit margins of the company will be affected and expected to fall in the future periods. The retention ratio also signifies the affect of gradual declinations of retained profits over the years and is dropping down following the same trend of Earnings of the company. The asset turnover is expected to increase due to increasing sale and reducing assets, the ratio is expected to improve continuously every year. The financial gearings of the company are assumed to remain stable with little variation that will make the company more predictable to the investors by consistency in the in the operational and financial sustainability of the organization. (Helfert,